Happy 40th Anniversary, Title IX

Growing up, I heard “Title IX” thrown around almost as often as “movies” or “Beverly Hills 90210”. It always seemed to be related to the team sports in which I was so involved, but as I grew up, I realized it was about much more. However, it wasn’t until recently that I really understood just what TItle IX did and how it related to the mostly discrimination-free life I live today.

So this week, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which ensured that any educational program (not just athletics) receiving federal funding could not discriminate on the basis of gender. It is true that Title IX became known for increasing athletic opportunities for females, which explains the notion with which I grew up. However, Title IX is also the major reason for equal opportunities for females in our nation’s classroom. On special anniversaries like this, it boggles my mind that only 40 years have passed since women before my generation endured such a different environment full of vivid boundaries. Thank goodness that others came before me and took a stand, all to ensure young girls like me could grow up in a world where there were no boundaries.

In some fields, the advances women have made since Title IX are obvious. There is a marked increase of women in the legal and medical fields. The issue is largely focused on discrimination agains females, but in some fields such as teaching and nursing, men benefitted from Title IX too. In other areas, we know there still exist gender gaps in areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The National Science Foundation has data showing that in 2009 women earned 57 percent of all bachelor degrees, but they only accounted for 18 percent of engineering undergraduate degrees. The topic to be addressed at many federal agencies and private organizations is to understand the root of this gender gap-is it a lack of opportunity or is it a conscious choice when weighing out work-life balance? If the latter is true, what can we do to make work-life more flexible so that women pursue STEM careers?

So while the issues women face since 1972 have changed, Title IX was the crux. The foundation. The necessary action to ensure future generations could reap equality in opportunity. While we, as humans, have many steps left to take, our path would certainly be different if it were not for this critical action.

Happy anniversary Title IX. I am only one example of the generation of young women who have benefitted from the tenacity of the men and women who created and enacted you.